5 hen party ideas for girlies on a budget in 2026

It’s March and hen do season is officially upon us. Whether you’re a maid of honour or bridesmaid, you’ll be deep in the trenches hunting down deals to build a night (or two) to remember for your bestie bride to be.  

If you’re not careful though, the costs can quickly get out of hand. The Foxy Hen says people spent anywhere between £90 to £800 per person on their friends’ hen do’s in 2025. Costs for a one-day hen set people back anywhere between £90 to £150 on average, while hen weekends in the UK cost anywhere between £250 to £450 per person. More luxury options or going abroad set people back upwards of £800 per person.  

Not everyone has that kind of money to spend though. And lots of people have several friends getting married and multiple hen do parties to attend. So, if you’re trying to keep costs low, we have several budget hen party ideas that the bride to be in your life will love.  

Sleepover vibes for the bride that loves a cosy night in  

A cosy sleepover in is by far the cheapest way to host a hen do, especially if one of you is willing to host.  

Everyone brings their own pillows, duvets, the cutest pyjamas they own and eye masks. The theme can be whatever the bride is into. Disney movie night in with popcorn and pizzas, or a noughties beauty party with supermarket facemasks are two popular options. All you need is access to Disney+ (costs start from £4.99 per month) and a few facemasks (these start from about a quid).  

Or, if the bride is into board games, have everyone bring along their favourite board game to try out. Or raid a charity shop where you can often find quirky choices for less than a fiver.  

Food and drinks are likely to be your biggest expenses here. You can either go down the potluck route where everyone brings a meal and buy some frozen patisseries to bake in the morning, or go a little more bougie with a takeaway and brunch in the morning. It depends on how “budget” you want to make it. In terms of drinks, you can ask everyone to bring their own or collect some cash in advance to buy a few options for everyone to share.  

This one can truly be as cheap as you want to make it, so it’s perfect for hen do’s on a budget where everyone can pitch in with stuff they already have to make it a fun and memorable experience for the bride.  

BBQ and hot tub hen do for the bride that loves summer vibes in the garden  

This is another cheap option if one of you has a garden and a BBQ and you’re planning on hosting the hen do in the summer. Get together mid-afternoon and fire up the BBQ. Everyone brings something to grill and something to drink, plus a little extra for the bride.  

Want to make it extra bougie? Hire a hot tub for the day. You can all have a dip with a glass of prosecco after the BBQ. Hot tub hire starts from around £75 for a hot tub that fits six people and you can usually add on a gazebo if you’re worried about the British weather.  

Entertainment can stay on the cheap side too, if needed. Bring a speaker and play some tunes, play classic hen do games like “Would She Rather” or “Pass the Parcel”; you can find lots of twists on these on Etsy and kits start from as little as £2.50 per game pack.  

You could also bring things like frisbees or badminton if you’ve got a sportier bunch that likes to move more.  

This one’s sole “fixed cost” is the hot tub hire, which’ll set you back around £75. Everything else can be as expensive (or as cheap) as you want to make it. Split between 5 to 6 people, the hot tub hire works out to around £15 per person, and then it’s just a case of covering BBQ food and drinks and maybe a little decor, all based on how much people are willing to spend.  

Pub crawl for the bride who enjoys a pint and cozy pub vibes  

This one’s low cost and low effort too. Get together after dinner and have a pub crawl in town. It’s that simple. Make it a treat for the bride by agreeing to cover her drinks between you. But other than that, everyone gets their own and spends as little (or as much) as they like on drinks.  

There’s pub crawls out there that are particularly popular with stag and hen dos. If you’re near Leeds, the Otley run is a famous, roughly 3-mile pub crawl, which starts at Woodies Craft Ale House and covers around 17 pubs depending on who you ask. That’s 17 pints as the goal is to have a pint in each pub, but we won’t blame you if you opt for a lime and soda option to keep costs (and hangovers) at bay.  

The Otley Run also encourages dressing up, so you’ll see gaggles of cowboys, pink ladies, Disney princesses, and zoo animals. It’s a good opportunity to put a fun twist on a traditional pub crawl. Even if you’re nowhere near Leeds, you could give your own pub crawl hen do a theme.  

Hiking and a pub meal for the outdoorsy bride who enjoys the countryside  

If your bride is happiest in walking boots, this is a brilliant low‑cost option. Pick a scenic route near home so no one has to spend much on travel and ask anyone with a car to help with lifts. National Trust have lots of free walking routes, so you won’t be short on ideas. 

Plan your walk in advance so everyone knows what to expect. A simple two to three hour route is usually enough to get the group chatting, laughing and enjoying the fresh air without anyone feeling exhausted. 

You can keep the cost almost zero if you bring a picnic instead of eating out. Think supermarket meal deals, homemade sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps — whatever the group is happy with. Throw in a few little treats for the bride, like her favourite chocolate or some bubbly in mini bottles. 

If you’d rather end with a warm meal, choose a cosy pub with mains under £15–£20. It’s a great chance to play a few low‑key hen games too. This option works well because you only pay for food and drinks. Everything else, nature, views, laughs, is completely free. 

Go Ape treetop challenge for the adventurous bride who loves adrenaline  

If your bride is the type who loves a challenge, Go Ape is a fun way to do something different without blowing the budget. Every site is slightly different, but most courses include zip wires, rope crossings and high platforms that force everyone to cheer each other on. It’s a brilliant bonding activity, especially if your group doesn’t all know each other yet. 

Standard tickets cost around £35 per person, but if you’re a thinkmoney SmartPlus customer, you can get 12% off using discounted gift cards from PlusSave. That brings the cost down to roughly £30 each, which is great for something that feels like a proper experience. 

Afterwards, you can keep things flexible based on budgets. Some groups go for a cheap pizza or pub burger. Others choose a drink somewhere cosy and call it a night. There’s no pressure to spend lots; the main event is the treetop adventure, and that’s already covered.